PTNotts_Feb18_lo

news & views
nottinghamshirenews
Do you have news to celebrate? We’d love to hear! Email sam@schoolspublishing.co.uk
www.primarytimes.co.uk/nottinghamshire
Local champion and Bilsthorpe Flying
High Academy unite to install lifesaving
equipment at the school
Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy has taken receipt of a defibrillator thanks
to the efforts of some school fundraising, local residents and businesses, all
galvanised by a local champion, Keeley Ward.
Keeley Ward is an unusually busy person. A resident of Bilsthorpe
and mum of an energetic 2-year-old, she works full time, is the Chair of
Bilsthorpe’s Branch of the Royal British Legion and is the Unit Manager for
St John Badger’s. In June last year she added to her schedule the wish to
raise enough money to buy four defibrillators for the community’s use,
costing a whopping £8000.
Keeley said, “Now Bilsthorpe will have four defibrillators, including the
one based at the school. Local residents helped to raise the money and the
school did their own fundraising to help and also received some funds from
The British Heart Foundation. Bilsthorpe has really grown population-wise
and we are on the brink of the recommended 8-minute response time for
ambulance services, so having access to this vital equipment will improve
the survival chances for anyone whose heart stops, - while they wait for
emergency services.”
Head Teacher at Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy, Mrs Anne Ingle said
that the school were delighted to contribute. “This is such an important
advance for the community and as a school we were eager to play a part.
We are in awe of Keeley’s contribution to the local area. She is a local
hero and someone the whole community can be thankful for. She is an
inspiration to the wonderful children who attend my school and we look
forward to continuing to help wherever we can.”
National Trust seeks volunteers
The National Trust is looking for volunteers to help at historic properties across
Nottinghamshire.
The conservation charity is looking for people from all walks of life to help
across a variety of roles, such as bringing history to life as a room guide at The
Workhouse or helping care for the parkland as a volunteer conservation ranger
at Clumber Park. As well as working in beautiful surroundings, volunteering
with the Trust provides the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends
and take part in exclusive behind-the-scenes talks and tours. Volunteers don’t
need any qualifications or specific experience, just be willing to get involved
and enjoy a new challenge.
Alison Minshall, Volunteering and Participation Consultant at the Trust said:
‘As a charity, we rely on volunteers to help us look after the places in our care,
and we wouldn’t be able to do this without their support and boundless
enthusiasm.
‘There’s much more flexibility to volunteering than you might think too,
whether it’s a few hours a week as a room guide, once a month in the garden or
even once a year at a family muck-in day when you can bring the kids and help
in the parkland. Whatever time you can give it’s very much appreciated and
makes a real difference in preserving our heritage’.
Details of volunteering opportunities at National Trust places in
Nottinghamshire can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteer
Shorter summer holidays for
Nottinghamshire pupils
Pupils across Nottinghamshire will be enjoying shorter summer holidays and a
two-week October half-term break from the 2019/20 academic year.
The move follows a six-week consultation by Nottinghamshire County
Council where more than 6,300 responses were received from parents, teaching
staff, governors and trade unions. More than 57% of those who responded
preferred the new holiday pattern which will see a shorter five-week summer
holiday, a two-week October half term and a fixed spring break, which will be
the first full two weeks of April. Following approval at today’s Children and
Young People’s Committee (Dec 18) the new holiday pattern will be effective
from the 2019-20 academic year to 2022 -2023.
Committee chairman Councillor Philip
Owen said he was delighted with the high
level of engagement and response to the
consultation.
“The two weeks break in October will
hopefully benefit younger children feel less
tired during the autumn term, so that they
can approach the Christmas period still able
to function effectively in their studies.”
New Year, new classrooms, for Haddon Primary School children!
Children at Haddon Primary School, in Carlton have started their 2018
school year in sparkling new classrooms!
The school in Carlton is undergoing a re-vamp with new classrooms,
meeting and support rooms, updated toilet facilities and a new library. The
school’s previous design, said Head Teacher Nina Capek, was an impractical
open plan design which made the school noisy and outdated. “Finally, the
children of Haddon are getting the facilities they deserve. We are all very
excited about the future at Haddon and both the staff and pupils will thrive
in the new building and learning spaces. Now we can really start to dream
big and aim high!”
Pupil Emaan Khan is 8 years old and said, “I think it’s really good, it’s
much bigger and better! I really like my classroom and I think I will learn
better because the building is quieter with the new doors and windows.”
Fellow pupil Alex Aliu (age 8 years) is also excited about the changes. “We
have got a lot of space now. In our old classrooms it was noisy, and the
furniture was old. This is much nicer!”
Daisy Blake age 8 years said everyone seems a lot happier now. “I
really like the new chairs and tables, they are really comfortable. All of
the windows and doors are different than before and better, and we are
putting up really nice displays as well. The Teachers are happy too and we
are finding the best places to put everything to make it as nice as possible. I
think we can do better work now
because it’s so nice and tidy and
you don’t have to worry about
any mess. I am happy for the
teachers too, they are all nice and
I would find it difficult to pick just
one teacher as my favourite!”
4
Primary Times FEBRUARY 2018 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/nottinghamshire